This year has been a little different.
Unlike the leisurely and stable life of previous years, the whole family is busy preparing for Qiuhua's engagement.
Wu Xin lived in the old house of his family, which was dark, damp and musty. The engagement took place at his elder brother's house.
As usual, Wu Asan got drunk and his aunt took care of everything.
The rules and etiquette are all in place and flawless. The food at the banquet may not be too high-end, but it should meet the normal standards of rural areas. In short, Qiuhua cannot be neglected.
On the day of engagement, Qiuhua wore a festive red woolen coat, smeared sesame oil on her hair and braided it into two thick, black braids, put on lipstick and powder on her face.
She took out the wooden box Wu Xin had given her, took out the emerald green ring and put it on, but all ten of her fingers had frostbite and were as thick as radishes, so she could only wear it up to the second section.
Friends and relatives enjoyed the meal and were willing to share in the joy and bless the young couple.
On the third day after the engagement, Wu Xin set off for school.
Wu Xin rode his bike with Qiuhua, and she said she would give him a ride. When they reached a fork in the road, Wu Xin grabbed her hand and refused to let go.
"The way back is too long. I'm worried. I'll take you back."
Unable to persuade him, the two of them ended up riding their bikes back to the starting point.
"Hey, give me a ride again!"
Qiu Hua was reluctant in her heart, but she didn't say it. She laughed at him and said, "What's the point of us going back and forth like this?"
"Consider me a scoundrel for pestering you." Wu Xin picked up her hand and leaned over to kiss it gently.
The two set out again.
The roads in the village were gravelly and a bit bumpy. The levers on the back of the bicycle were very hard, and the bike went up and down, turned left and right, causing Qiuhua's butt to hurt.
Wu Xin rode slowly, like an old ox being dragged out of the house, looking back every few steps.
"You must wear this ring for the rest of your life. This is the tight ring I have placed on you."
"Why, do you think I'm that Monkey King and will cause you trouble?"
The front wheel suddenly hit a big rock, and the car shook and almost threw Qiuhua off. She wrapped her arms around Wu Xin's waist and suddenly felt a tightness in the middle of her arms.
"You are not Sun Wukong, and you will not get into trouble. You are Chang'e, and this tight hoop is also a diamond shield for protection."
Qiu Hua laughed and said, "That's nonsense! Chang'e is a fairy from heaven, how can I compare to her? You're just making fun of me."
"Can the fairies in the sky be as pretty as you?"
Her face flushed, and she gently pressed her cheek against his back. Wu Xin's back tightened, and his whole body lost movement like a plaster statue. They both almost fell to the ground.
He glanced around quickly and saw no one was around.
"Qiuhua."
Wu Xin put his arm around her waist, pulled her into his arms, and said to her forehead:
"Just once, indulge yourself."
Without saying a word, he grabbed Qiuhua's mouth and kissed her. The person in his arms was caught off guard by the kiss. After a brief moment of unconsciousness, a pair of gentle hands climbed up his back.
In just a few seconds, the two separated and Wu Xin put her in the back seat.
The weather is cold, but the two hearts close together are hot.
Qiuhua took a deep breath and steadied herself before saying, "My aunt said she wants to build a new house for you. I'll give her a thousand yuan sometime."
"This money is for you. You don't have to give it to anyone else."
"I don't need so much money. Building a house is a big deal."
"Qiuhua, didn't I just say that? You are a fairy from heaven. I wish I could pick the moon off for you, but unfortunately I can't do it.
You wait for me year after year, so just keep these mundane things.
You don't have to worry about the house. My aunt told me a while ago that my mother entrusted her with a sum of money before she died. Also, my father gives her money every year, but she doesn't use a penny and saves it all for me."
Qiuhua's eyes were a little moist. Perhaps his aunt was the only warmth he had in the dark past ten years.
This love without any blood relationship supported him to break out of his repressive shell and grow up.
"There's one more thing I've always wanted to ask your opinion on." The cold wind blew across his face, but Wu Xin didn't feel cold at all. The small stove behind him kept warming his heart.
"Dad wants me to go to a hospital in Shanghai after graduation. If, I mean if, would you be willing to go with me?"
His cautiousness made Qiuhua feel distressed.
"We will be husband and wife from now on. Why do you want to be separated from me?"
"I……"
"I've seen embroidery in a department store in Shanghai. It seems Shanghainese people like it very much. I wonder how my skills would be considered over there."
Wu Xin said excitedly: "It must be first-class!"
"There's one more thing." Wu Xin paused and said, "Father plans to leave all his property to me. Qiuhua, if we have children in the future, I want them to have the surname Qiao, after my mother.
It’s enough for me to have my brother by my father’s side.”
Qiuhua hugged him tightly and said slowly, "I'll do as you say."
As they were talking, they came to a fork in the road. Wu Xin stopped his bicycle and their eyes met. Even though they had parted physically, their hearts were together.
Qiuhua gently pushed his bicycle and said, "Hurry up, it will be too late if you don't leave now."
Wu Xin grabbed her hand and said, "Your way back is too far. I'll take you back before I leave. I promise, I'll leave after I take you back, without any delay!"
Qiuhua smiled bitterly, and Wu Xin took her hand and said earnestly: "Please..."
When Wu Xin sent Qiuhua to the village entrance again, she stepped back five meters and said, "Hurry up and leave!"
Well, it has to be Qiuhua!
Wu Xin, with his head down and looking aggrieved, got on his bicycle and looked back at her. Qiuhua waved at him, and he turned back reluctantly. When he was about to turn the corner, he stopped and looked for her.
How does this look like a cold-faced plaster statue?
It was almost dark when Wu Xin arrived at the school. The street lights were already on. It was freezing cold, but there was actually a person standing at the school gate.
Seeing Wu Xin riding his bike over, the man came forward and only then did he see clearly who the person was.
"Why are you so late today?" Xie Wan took out the cloth bag in her arms and handed it to him.
I don’t know how long she stood there, but Wu Xin arrived at school two hours later than usual.
He got out of the car and just greeted her politely without taking her things. Xie Wan pulled the corners of her mouth awkwardly and stuffed the cloth bag into his arms.
Wu Xin blocked it with one hand and said firmly, "It's so late, you should go back quickly."
"It's just a little thing, a homemade cake. You can have it. If you don't take it, we won't be able to finish it and it will all be thrown away."
She stood there motionless, one foot under the wheel.
"If you can't finish it, give it to others. There are many students in the class who like to eat it. I don't like it."
"So, what do you like to eat?"
Wu Xin took two steps back pushing the cart, then turned and said, "I'm already engaged to Qiuhua."
Xie Wan looked at Wu Xin's receding back, and stubborn tears slid down from the corners of her eyes. She took a deep breath, and a cold wind blew in. She couldn't help coughing violently and squatted down in pain.
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